Litigation

A key tool used by Muslim Advocates to counter anti-Muslim hate and bigotry is bringing strategic, high-impact lawsuits on issues that affect the American Muslim community.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
- United States Congressman

“If your’e not fighting for the civil rights of American Muslims, then you’re not on the cutting edge of civil rights in America today.”

Mosque Opposition Case

Muslim Advocates and its allies filed an amicus brief in a case where public officials prevented a Muslim community from building a mosque after an outpouring of anti-Muslim protests. The amicus brief explains how mosque opposition cases are not isolated incidents, but must be considered along with rising anti-Muslim sentiment across the country.
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Religious Land Use

RLUIPA, formally known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, is the federal law that protects mosques and religious institutions from illegal discrimination. Litigation surrounding mosque opposition, mosque zoning denial cases, and widespread opposition to mosques across the country generally invoke this key federal law.
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Advocacy

A key tool used by Muslim Advocates to counter anti-Muslim hate and bigotry is engaging policymakers through policy and legislative advocacy.

Hilary Shelton
- Washington Bureau Director, NAACP

“Muslim Advocates is an indispensable ally in the fight for civil liberties for all Americans. They have been on the scene every day, working with us on Capitol Hill and throughout our communities.”

Congressional Testimony

Muslim Advocates' Farhana Khera testified at the first-ever Congressional hearing on the civil rights of American Muslims, and spoke on the growing issue of discrimination against Muslims in America. ...Learn More

Call for White House Convening

A White House convening on hate targeting religious communities will engage interested parties such as community members, religious leaders, and local and federal government officials in conversations about reducing hate crimes directed at minority religious communities and eliminating religious bigotry. ...Learn More

Peter King Hearings

Congressional hearings on the "radicalization of the American Muslim community" were chaired by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) in the House Homeland Security Committee. Muslim Advocates worked to address the serious harm that the hearings may likely cause American Muslim communities. ...Learn More

Education

Click Here to End Hate

Click Here to End Hate: Anti-Muslim Bigotry Online & How to Take Action exposes the breadth of anti-Muslim hate online with examples from leading social media platforms. In addition, the report provides an overview of existing laws governing hate speech and content policies created by Internet companies. Although the law rarely requires that material be removed from the Internet, there are important steps that Internet users can take to respond effectively to hate speech online: namely, reporting and counterspeech. The report walks readers through step-by-step instructions on how to report content using the tools that Internet and social media companies have put in place. The report also gives specific examples of counterspeech, which has been recognized as a useful and often successful method of responding to hateful speech.

Share Your Story

Have you experienced mosque opposition?
Has anti-Sharia legislation been proposed in your state?
Has a public official engaged in hate speech targeting Muslims in your community?

Tell us your story below.

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How Jawad’s Story Was Heard by Congress

Jawad Khaki, a U.S. citizen and then-corporate vice president of a major technology company based in the Seattle, Washington area, had been subjected to interrogations on at least nine separate occasions. U.S. Customs & Border Protection officials interrogated Jawad about the personal information of family members, his religious practices, and which mosque he attends. Officials searched information on his cell phone, made copies of various documents, and extensively searched his belongings, as well as those of family members who traveled with him.Jawad shared his story with Muslim Advocates. His story was heard by Congress and Department of Homeland Security Officials when Executive Director Farhana Khera testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Jawad’s story was also used in other advocacy efforts, including a published report that documents the systematic and widespread practice of federal agents interrogating Americans returning home after overseas travel at our nation’s borders and international airports. Following extensive advocacy efforts by Muslim Advocates, Jawad is no longer harassed when returning to the U.S. from travel abroad.

Please note: By submitting information, this is not a commitment to legal representation.

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Legal Resources

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